Congress Secretly Approves Arms for Syria Rebels

After all the embarassing and shocking revelations about the Syrian rebels, after the broad majority of the rebels either openly declare themselves as part of Al Qaeda or strongly sympathize and ideologically identify with Al Qaeda, the US has begun resupplying the rebels with arms.
How can an honest government officially endorse peace talks but at the same time arm a warring faction that is opposed to peace talks and will certainly feel emboldened and encouraged to fight on after getting further arms?
To justify this appalling decision the US has once again resumed reinvigorating the myth of the „moderate rebels“, no matter how ridiculous and incredible such claims have become in the mean time:

„One close observer of the  opposition, who recently returned from travelling in the rebel-held areas of northern Syria, says that “you could go an awful long way talking to these jihadi groups before you met any fighters who did not thoroughly approve of 9/11 as a well-deserved blow against the US”.“
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/27/return-to-damascus/

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/01/27/officials-congress-secretly-approves-arms-for-syria-rebels/

How moderate are the Syrian Rebels fighting ISIS?

The so called „Army of Mujahedeen“ is the group being most active in fighting against ISIS in Syria. Some mainstream western and arab media tried to imply that this group – as it is fighting „Al Qaeda“ (ISIS) – is (and must be) „moderate“.

Here one can read which specific rebel battalions belong to the „Army of Mujahedeen“:

„The Army of the Mujahideen was formed out of the following factions: the 19th Division of the FSA, the group known as Fastaqim Kama Umirt, meaning “Be Upright As Ordered,” the Nur al-Din al-Zanki Islamic Brigades, and al-Noor Islamic Movement…Meanwhile, the influence of the Nur al-Din al-Zanki Brigades covers areas in the northwestern countryside of Aleppo, such as Anjara, Hour, Mansoura, and Kafr Dael. These brigades are believed to be the strongest among the constituents of Army of the Mujahideen.“
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syria-army-mujahideen-challenges-isis-gains

It is quite interesting to know who „Nur al-Din al-Zanki“ was in order to get a clue about the ideology and mindset of the fighters of such a rebel militia:

„In 1146, Nur ad-Din massacred the entire Christian population of the city [Edessa]“
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_ad-Din,_atabeg_of_Aleppo

Is Monsieur Hollande really so naive?

Read the following excerpt from Al-Hayats interview with Francois Hollande to see just how ignorant or naive this president of a major western country is:

Al-Hayat:  We constantly hear that Assad remaining in power is a better option, according to some people, than radical Islamists governing Syria. Do you think this is realistic?

Hollande:  There is no political solution if Assad stays. His insistence on pursuing oppression by all means will only prolong and exacerbate the Syrian crisis. Assad is not fighting Islamists. He is using them to put pressure on the moderate opposition…“
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/01/france-hollande-interview-syria-geneva-iran-egypt.html

So, basically he says that all the ISIS, Jabhat al Nusra, Islamic Front and other clearly sectarian and Salafi Jihadists fighting the Syrian regime are a myth, non-existent and only a creation of the evil EVIL Syrian government propaganda.
So, the long Salafi beards, the Al Qaeda flags, the burnings of Shia mosques, the vandalization of churches, the beheading of opponents (civilian or military), the mass executions of prisoners, car bombs, suicide bombs…in short, all the „success tools“ of the insurgency applied by the military effective islamist rebels are only a minor event of an irrelevant minority that Assad is using, while the non-visible „moderate“ majority is a victim of Assad AND the Islamists.

 

Who is suddenly and successfully fighting ISIS in Syria?

Out of the sudden and within few days the notorious Syrian-Iraqi Al Qaeda affiliate „ISIS“ (Islam State of Iraq and Sham) is suffering defeat after defeat on several fronts within Syria. But who is really fighting them?
We are now to believe that a hitherto hardly known group called „Army of Mujahideen“ is taking the lead in the inner-rebel „Jihad“ of (supposedly) „moderate“ rebels vs. ISIS:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syria-army-mujahideen-challenges-isis-gains

It is hard to conceive that the much feared and battle-experienced ISIS militia that has been simultaneously fighting the regular Syrian Army (SAA), the pro-regime NDF militia, the Kurds from YPG and different other rebel factions in Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Raqqa is suddenly overpowered by the spontaneously created „Army of Mujahideen“.
What is more interesting is a concerted campaign by mass media outlets to portray the new player as part as the FSA, which has been a cover name for the so called „moderate“ rebels.  So, just as the rebellion lost the last bits of its once hyped aura of romantization and it became clear that the relevant forces on the rebel side are the most radical Salafi Jihadists – Syrian or otherwise – the old „good cop bad cop“ scheme is being applied: „Folks, there ARE the good, moderate rebels and they ARE militarily relevant. Look, they are routing Al Qaeda. Failing to praise and support them is tantamount to strengthening Al Qaeda“.

To look through this new attempt of deception through smoke screen creation it is necessary to read between the lines, e.g. this article where „FSA“ rebels are quoted openly admitting that their successes on the southern Deraa battlefront are mostly owed to the Nusra front (JN), the other Al Qaeda affiliate operating on the Syrian soil:
http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/islamist-militants-secret-role-in-syrian-rebels-successes

The biggest rebel umbrella organization aside from „Al Qaeda“ (JN & ISIS) is the newly formed „Islamic Front“ (IF) with its alleged 50-60.000 fighters, so if the claim is to be made that these other rebels follow a clearly different and non-islamist/non-sectarian „moderate“ ideology then one should ask whether the IF has openly declared ISIS (and JN) as enemy.
This is unlikely as only few weeks ago the IF and ISIS/JN were conducting joint operations: ISIS/JN played the main role in the capture of the Mingh airbase, in the capture of the al-Kindi hospital and in the attack and ensuing sectarian killings in Adraa near Damascus:
http://rt.com/news/russia-condemns-adra-massacre-406/

There are clear indications that the entire „sensational“ story about the supposed „uprising“ of moderate Syrian rebels against the evil, mostly non-Syrian „Al Qaeda“ rebels is a masquerade to wash the insurgency clean of its worst stains, but this is probably a bluff. It seems that ISIS is not putting up any real resistance and is also not suffering high casualties. Where are for instance the much feared Chechen fighters? Is it possible that the majority of ISIS fighters are only changing the label by „defecting“ to JN or the Islamic Front?

The following blog article is very well researched and outlines the depth of the farce that is spread through western and rebel friendly media:
http://notthemsmdotcom.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/the-reactionary-essence-of-the-syrian-insurgency/

Predictably we will hear in the course of the next couple of weeks that the ISIS-held rebel areas are „liberated“ by „moderate“ rebels, which in turn will be once again portrayed as reform-minded, pro-western, democracy interested non-sectarian majority that is fighting an oppressive dictatorship.
My two cents.

The Takfiris are leading the Middle East into a disaster

„Just as after Hariri’s killing, the calculated recriminations of the March 14 coalition, led by the Future Movement, came fast and furious. Blame was laid squarely at the feet of Hezbollah…As with all political upheavals in Lebanon, the question that must be asked is, “who benefits?” Does Hezbollah? Although Shatah was a stalwart March 14 operative who decried Hezbollah’s role in Syria, he was nevertheless regarded as a relative moderate…Just as in Iraq, moderate Sunni politicians have been singled out for assassination by takfiris who seek to exploit their spilled blood, provoke co-religionists into committing crimes against civilians and stir a simmering sectarian pot. Who are the likely perpetrators behind Mohammed Shatah’s assassination and the dahiyeh bombing? The very same ones the U.S. and Saudi-backed March 14 coalition have emboldened.“

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/03/who-benefits-from-the-shatah-assassination/

The biggest threat to the world of Islam are EXTREMIST (Takfiri) Sunnis

The statements in this article are not relating to or directed against mainstream Sunnis, be they  „moderate/secular“ or conservatively pious.
I am specifically speaking of the „Takfeeris“, those who declare other muslims, especially non-Sunni muslims or nonconforming moderate Sunni muslims Unbelievers (Kuffar). The next step which the Takfeeris call for and actively work on – be it through arming and funding Jihadis or going to „Jihad“ themselves – is the extermination of the „Unbelievers“.

The broad majority of Takfeeris belong to the Wahhabi/Salafi school of thought , which itself is a part of the minority school of Hanbalis within Sunni Islam. The problem, however, is that this radical ideology is widespread among both private and political circles of the Arab monarchies of the southern Persian Gulf, which the West cannot really afford to antagnoize and punish because
a) they are (among) the most important global suppliers of petroleum and natural gas
b) they are harbouring US military forces
c) they are (especially Saudi Arabia) very important buyers of western weapons
d) they have bought themselves into western companies and economies
e) they are hostile to Iran
f) they have deposited hundreds of billions of USD in american banks, which if transferred elsewhere could cause a massive economic crash for the US.

The article below written by awarded expert journalist Patrick Cockburn highlights the irresponsible behaviour of the Gulf monarchies and the dangers that are threatening the Shia people:

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/sunni-monarchs-back-youtube-hate-preachers-antishia-propaganda-threatens-a-sectarian-civil-war-which-will-engulf-the-entire-muslim-world-9028538.html

Syrian musicians performing traditional arabic songs in streets of Damascus

Of course these creative and talented musicians and other artists will be banned from the public once the „real“ muslims of Al Qaeda have taken over Damascus.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25454605

BBC News - Syrian band Wamda's flashmob performances in Damascus streets - Mozil_2014-01-03_11-01-09

Iraqi Sunnis‘ long struggle since Saddam

The article below is well investigated and describes a sad timeline of the disappointment and (justified) anger of many Iraqi Sunnis regarding the Maliki government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25559872#

„Sunnis joined the first government of Nouri Maliki, but the influential posts went to Shia or Kurdish politicians and Sunni complaints of marginalisation continued…In 2007, while Iraq was sliding towards unprecedented levels of sectarian violence, Sunnis joined other secular and Shia parties and withdrew from Mr Maliki’s government in an attempt to bring him down…The gradual defeat of al-Qaeda – which turned out not to have been decisive – and the crackdown on Shia militias gave Mr Maliki significant political credibility and Sunnis rejoined his government…In the election of 2010, and apparently after understanding that they would not dominate power in the country again, almost all Sunni influential parties joined the Iraqiya bloc led by the secular Shia politician Iyad Allawi…“

Foreign fighters in Syria and the Saudis dubious role

Nobody should believe the new western nonsense that the Saudi backed „Islamic Front“ is different to and an opponent of the syrian Al Qaeda affiliates ISIS and Jabhat al Nusra. The foreign Jihadis flocking to Syria to wage a sectarian „Jihad“ are not merely contained to these two organizations:

„Throughout the Syrian civil war, one of the major concerns of Western powers in particular has been the inflow of Sunni foreign fighters, who come from the wider Arab world, Western Europe, and as far afield as Kazakhstan and Indonesia…According to a recent estimate by Aaron Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, there could be up to 11,000 of these fighters…there are the two groups Suqour al-Izz and Harakat Sham al-Islam. The former, founded at the beginning of this year, is led by Saudi foreign fighters; the latter, established in the summer, is led by Moroccan foreign fighters…The Green Battalion is based in the Qalamoun area of Damascus province and was founded in the summer by Saudi fighters …Jamaat Jund ash-Sham was founded last year by Lebanese fighters in western Homs governorate…“
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25460397

Regarding the shameful and dubious role of the Saudis and their interventionist terrorism:
http://100wordz.wordpress.com/2013/12/25/is-saudi-arabia-a-sponsor-of-international-terrorism-or-iran/